Factors Associated with the Development of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Abstract

This study aimed to examine factors associated with the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at
Somdet Phra Sangharaja 19 Hospital, Kanchanaburi province. A retrospective descriptive-analytic study was conducted. Samples consisted of medical records of patients who were intubated and received mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours between October 2023 and September 2025. A total of 114 patient records were included. Data were collected using a structured medical record data collection form. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used for data analysis, and inferential statistics were analyzed using the chi-square test. The results revealed that factors significantly associated with the development of VAP included gender (p=0.034), smoking history (p=0.002), primary diagnosis (p=0.017), length of hospital stay (p<0.001), length of ICU stay (p<0.001), duration of mechanical ventilation (p<0.001), re-intubation (p<0.001), and the use of Clindamycin (p<0.001). These findings indicated that both patient-related factors and treatment-related factors play an important role in the occurrence of VAP. The findings of this study highlight the importance of surveillance and prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia, particularly in relation to care processes and the management of modifiable risk factors. Strategies such as reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, preventing re-intubation, and ensuring appropriate use of antibiotics may contribute to improving the quality of care for patients in intensive care units.